Both the Las Vegas Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers are coming off disappointing seasons. Now, the Raiders are trying to turn things around with Pete Carroll stepping in as head coach and Tom Brady serving as a minority owner—and a major behind-the-scenes advisor. Meanwhile, the Niners are in full rebuild mode, trying to rework their foundation piece by piece.
Last week’s draft was a major test for both teams—and an interesting one at that. Each made 11 selections over the three-day event. Carroll and the Raiders leaned heavily into offense. Kyle Shanahan and the Niners, true to form, prioritized defense, selecting six defenders out of their 11 picks. For a team rebuilding its roster, many expected a more balanced approach. San Francisco didn’t address key offensive needs until Day 3.
According to Coach Yac, the Niners had their sights set on drafting an offensive tackle with their second third-round pick. But the Raiders beat them to it. “The 49ers had a late pick in the third round, and just before they got on the clock, the Raiders had two picks. The first pick, they take Caleb Rogers, and the next pick, they take Charles Grant…” — Coach Yac via X. Looks like Carroll and the Raiders may have thrown a wrench into the Niners’ draft plans.
Matt Barrows believes the 49ers were going to select an OT with their second pick in the third round, but the Raiders took tackles with their two picks right in front of them:
“The 49ers had a late pick in the third round and just before they got on the clock, the Raiders had… pic.twitter.com/e7k8uWcTWK
— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) April 28, 2025
Well, it looks like Coach Carroll and the Raiders just ruined plans for Brock Purdy and his O-line by taking away two tackles. At the post-draft conference, Niners’ GM John Lynch was asked about the team’s decision not to draft offensive players in the early rounds. Lynch mentioned that they did not come across options that aligned with what they were looking for. “There were a number of times that we were interested in adding, and it just didn’t come our way… And it just never aligned,” he said.
So, while the Niners missed out on making key offensive selections, another concern is now brewing on the defensive side of the ball.
Unfinished business for Kyle Shanahan’s defense
The Niners have made plenty of selections for their defensive line. But now, reports suggest that one position on the D-line might need special attention. As per ESPN, 49ers safety Malik Mustapha could miss the 2025 season because of his ACL injury. The 22-year-old first suffered an ACL injury during his collegiate career. In January, he again hurt his knee during the regular season’s final game against the Cardinals. Mustapha exited the game during the second half.
Now, the Niners did draft a safety in the fifth round. They picked Kansas State’s Marques Sigle as their 10th overall selection. But putting a rookie at the forefront is not ideal, considering half their veteran roster is already missing. So, in that case, there are chances that Kyle Shanahan and the Niners might explore free agency to look for a veteran safety to bolster the defense.
Image Credits: Social Media, taken from Instagram @Justin Simmons
Cory Woodroof of For the Win names Falcons’ Justin Simmons as the perfect choice for the Niners. “With the news that 49ers safety Malik Mustapha isn’t expected to be ready for the season because of a torn ACL, Simmons would be the perfect short-term replacement for San Francisco until Mustapha is ready to reassume his role in the starting lineup,” writes Cory. “Simmons could fill a key veteran leadership role on the back end and give the 49ers excellent depth at the position once Mustapha is healthy. He could even play as a third safety,” he added.
Simmons is currently an undrafted free agent. Interestingly, San Francisco wanted to sign him last offseason as well, but the 31-year-old chose to sign with the Falcons. During the 2024 season, Simmons recorded 62 tackles, including two for a loss, for the Falcons. So, adding him to the defense might help Brock Purdy and Co., while their rookie Marques Sigle would also get a chance to develop behind a veteran.
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